H E A LT H B U L L E T I N S BETTER SAFE WELCOA’S ONLINE BULLETIN FOR YOUR FA MILY’S SAFET Y Improving Alcohol Awareness UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS Alcohol awareness is about better understanding the impacts of alcohol and the signs of alcohol abuse. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, or too much, can harm your overall health. Excessive drinking can impact not only your physical health but cognitive abilities as Talk with your well. doctor if you have any concerns about your health. What is an appropriate amount of drinking? What is considered a standard drink? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, a standard drink contains 0.6 ounces (14.0 grams health risks include higher risk of certain cancers, high or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. Generally, this blood pressure, heart and liver disease, and digestive amount of pure alcohol is found in the following portions issues. Additionally, excessive alcohol use over a long of an alcoholic beverage: 12-ounces of beer (5% alcohol period of time can cause depression and anxiety and content), 8-ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content), may negatively impact relationships with family and 5-ounces of wine (12% alcohol content), 1.5-ounces of friends due to alcohol dependence and alcoholism. 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor Children of individuals who have alcohol issues have a (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey). Excessive drinking is higher chance of developing alcohol related issues. defjned as binge drinking or over drinking. For women this is 4 or more drinks in a single occasion and for Drinking alcohol in a social setting is common in the men, 5 or more drinks in a single occasion. Drinking United States. Because of this, it can be challenging to moderately is considered one drink a day. People under decrease alcohol use or monitor alcohol use. the age of 21, those who are pregnant or may become pregnant, individuals sufgering from alcoholism, or What are ways to remain involved socially, but cut back sufgering from other certain medical conditions should on alcoholic drink consumption? Here are some tips: avoid drinking. » Be open about your desire to cut back on number of drinks. Naming this can help other individuals to Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also cause feel empowered to cut back on the number of drinks cognitive diffjculties including short term memory loss as well! as well as the inability to operate motor vehicles. Almost half of traffjc fatalities are alcohol related. Long term 1 of 2
H E A LT H B U L L E T I N S » Drink water and sip in between drinks to cut back on the amount of alcoholic drink consumption » Commit to 1-2 drinks during a social engagement. If you feel you need accountability, ask a friend to join you! » Ofger to be the designated driver » Plan an event not related to alcohol consumption. What are other examples of social gatherings that you and your family, friends, or coworkers would be interested in participating in? » Pledge to not drink for a month. In a month, assess how the experience helped your physical health, and your bank account! There are safe and responsible ways to consume alcoholic beverages. Knowing the signs of alcohol misuse and abuse can help you make healthy decisions as well as share information with your community about how to engage responsibly! REFERENCES https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm The Lancet. (2015). All in for alcohol awareness. The Lancet, 385(9977), 1477 Fitzpatrick, J. (2006). Alcohol Awareness. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 20(5), 203-204 2 of 2
H E A LT H B U L L E T I N S Dealing with Distracted Driving THE DILEMMA OF DISTRACTED DRIVING Distracted driving is not only a risk to yourself, but a risk to other drivers as well as pedestrians. Distracted driving is when the driver’s attention is not entirely focused on the act of operating a motor vehicle. Talk with your There are four types of distracted driving: visual, doctor if you have auditory, manual and cognitive. Visual distraction is any concerns about when you are looking at something else other than the your health. road. Auditory distraction is when you are listening to something that is causing you to become distracted. Manual distraction is when you remove your hands individuals who felt that distracted driving was not from the wheel. Cognitive distraction is when your mind acceptable still admitted to text messaging or emailing wanders and you begin thinking of non-driving related while driving. As more drivers aim to multitask and topics. continue to operate cell phones, lawmakers have begun to take this important topic of safety into consideration. The most common distraction is using a cell phone Many states have banned handheld phone use while while driving, specifjcally text messaging. According to operating a motor vehicle. the National Highway Traffjc Safety Administration, sending or reading a text takes your eyes ofg the road for The following states are included in this ban: 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that would be driving the length of a football fjeld with your eyes closed. Text messaging Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, can increase the risk of a crash or near crash by 23 Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New times. Distracted driving leads to lack of ability to stay Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Oregon, in the designated lane, missing traffjc signals, and car Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and crashes. West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Recent studies suggest drivers do not have a high level of awareness regarding the fact that they are distracted while behind the wheel. In a recent study 36% of 1 of 2
H E A LT H B U L L E T I N S ARE YOU A DISTRACTED DRIVER? If so, what can you do to change these habits? Below are a few suggestions to improve focus while driving. » Leave your cell phone in the back seat where you cannot reach it » Turn your cell phone ofg or on silent » Put your cell phone on “Do Not Disturb” setting » Listen to music or radio shows that will not divert your attention from the road » If you are in a friend or family member’s car and they are texting while driving, kindly ask them to put down their phone while driving. Opening up a discussion about distracted driving can prevent future car crashes! HOW DO YOU KNOW IF OTHER DRIVERS ARE DISTRACTED? IS YOUR STATE ONE OF THE STATES THAT Below are signals that a driver may be distracted. HAVE BANNED HANDHELD CELL PHONE USE Protect yourself and avoid driving near the vehicle if WHILE DRIVING? possible. » Arizona » New Jersey » A vehicle is missing traffjc signals » California » New York » Connecticut » Nevada » A vehicle is veering among lanes » Delaware » Oregon » A driver who is not looking at the road, most likely their head will be facing down » Georgia » Rhode Island » Hawaii » Tennessee Distracted driving can have a potentially fatal outcome. » Illinois » Vermont However, it is preventable. Commit to lessening the » Maryland » Washington distractions you create and face while driving to help » Maine » West Virginia make the roads safer for everyone! » Minnesota » District of Columbia » New Hampshire 2 of 2
H E A LT H B U L L E T I N S Raising Awareness on Hemophilia HEMOPHILIA DAY IS APRIL 17 Hemophilia is a medical condition where the ability to blood clot is severely reduced. The blood will not clot normally as the blood lacks the necessary proteins. This means the individual who sufgers from hemophilia will bleed severely when an injury takes place. Hemophilia Talk with your is often inherited. However, 30% of individuals doctor if you have sufgering from hemophilia do not have a family history any concerns about of hemophilia. Acquired hemophilia is rare and may your health. occur during pregnancy, cancer, multiple sclerosis and autoimmune conditions. The main risk factor for hemophilia is through genetics, The following symptoms may occur if you are sufgering so when biologically related family members have from hemophilia: hemophilia, this may increase your chances. There are several complications that hemophilia may cause. » Deep bruises Deep internal bleeding, joint damage, infections and adverse reactions to clotting treatment. When internal » Unusual bleeding bleeding occurs within deep muscle, it can cause » Blood in stool or urine swelling of the limbs. This can lead to pain or numbness. Internal bleeding can also create pressure on the joints » Unexpected nosebleeds which in turn will cause pain. When an individual has » Excessive bleeding from injuries or cuts for no hemophilia, they have a higher risk of infection as they known reason are more likely to need blood transfusions. This can increase the risk of contaminated blood transfusions. If hemophilia runs in your family and you become An adverse reaction to clotting treatment means the pregnant, it may be possible to determine during treatment is less efgective. pregnancy if the baby is at risk for hemophilia. The tests pose risks so speak with your doctor if this is right for HOW IS HEMOPHILIA TREATED? you. Severe cases of hemophilia often can be diagnosed within the fjrst year of a child’s life. Mild cases may be Hemophilia is treated through the following therapies: diagnosed during adulthood. Blood tests will be utilized Desmopressin, clot-preserving medications, fjbrin in order to reveal if there is a clotting-factor defjciency. sealants, physical therapy, vaccinations, and using 1 of 2
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